Time to step up! Van Persie calls on Arsenal to win Premier League next season

Robin van Persie has called on Arsenal to make the 'final step' and become champions next season.

The Gunners blew the Barclays Premier League title race wide open when they beat Manchester United 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, meaning the leaders are now only three points ahead of Chelsea, whom they host this weekend.

Arsene Wenger's men, though, look likely to have no further say in the destiny of the championship after a series of draws in their recent 16-game unbeaten run left them with too much to do.

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However, the battling victory over United - achieved without injured captain Cesc Fabregas - has at least renewed the squad's battered self-confidence as they look to fend of FA Cup finalists Manchester City and secure automatic Champions League qualification.

While Van Persie, 27, accepts another season of what might have been is difficult to take, the 19-goal Dutchman insists Arsenal can rise to the challenge in 2012.

'It is time to make that final step,' Van Persie told Arsenal TV Online.

'We came so close a couple of times and achieved a [Carling Cup] final this year, but we need to play at least two or three finals and be involved in those circumstances.

'If you look at Manchester United, we can be better than them but they are [most likely] in the final of the Champions League, have a big chance of winning the Premier League and were in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

Van Persie also feels Arsenal have paid a heavy price for not being able to get maximum points from encounters against the likes of Sunderland and Blackburn, while beating Chelsea and United at home, as well as recording a famous Champions League last-16 first-leg victory over Barcelona in February.

'If you look back at a couple of games this year, like Sunday or against Chelsea, we didn't let these big games count because we dropped points against other teams,' Van Persie said. 'It makes it very frustrating.'

The Dutchman continued: 'The win over United was needed, as it was about pride and honour.

'If we had lost and Manchester City won their game in hand, they could have gone over us, which would have been a disaster, basically.'

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Arsenal hope Fabregas will shake off his thigh injury to make the trip to Stoke on Sunday, with Samir Nasri (hamstring) and centre-half Johan Djourou (leg) also concerns.

Off the pitch, American tycoon Stan Kroenke must this week send out formal documents for his proposed takeover, having taken his holding up to 63 per cent after buying stakes from late Danny Fiszman and Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith.

However, the deal is buy no means done, with major shareholder Alisher Usmanov indicating he may hold onto his 27 per cent, while the likes of Arsenal Supporters Trust have urged all minority shareholders not to sell as they believe the club should not be owned by any single individual.

Arsenal, meanwhile, today announced a three-year partnership deal with home appliance manufacturer Indesit 'to help drive their business in the UK and throughout Europe', which will start at the pre-season Emirates Cup on July 30.